Treats of a Different Variety

Despite the overwhelming amount of candy in the aisles of every store this time of year, I have yet to break down and purchase any Halloween candy yet. I know myself way too well. I’ve eaten entire bags of candy. I mean, they were “Fun Size” after all, so I felt obligated to see just how much fun they were. My mouth delighted in that brand of fun. My waistline and butt… not so much.

I’m intrigued by the new movement for Halloween Trick or Treaters–called “The Teal Pumpkin Project.” It would seem that it would serve dual purpose for someone like me who struggles to shut up bags of candy from calling me to eat them.

First and foremost, the Teal Pumpkin Project is a movement to provide safe treats to kids who may have food allergies. It makes sense, as it would seem there are increasingly more and more kids with peanut allergies, or other allergies that can be life-threatening.

The gist of the project is that you paint a pumpkin teal and leave it on your front steps as decoration, signifying that you are handing out non-candy treats–things that will be safe for kids with food allergies. It’s a cool idea, and it makes it a lot easier for parents to not have to crush the fun of Trick or Treating for their kids who have food allergies, by having to remove the offending candy from the haul.

But let’s be honest here. Parents steal kids’ candy all the time after Halloween. Dad “having” to eat a Payday candy bar out of his kids bucket, might be a real treat for Dad, and not just a life-saving measure for his kid with peanut allergies.

At any rate, the Teal Pumpkin Project is a cool idea. I may end up participating, not just to help parents with kids who have food allergies, but to prevent myself from devouring bags of Halloween candy before the day even gets here.